

The Global Jigsaw
BBC World Service
Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives, helping you get past the propaganda and misinformation. The Global Jigsaw comes from BBC Monitoring, which tracks, deciphers and analyses news media in 100 languages.We reach across multiple time zones, from China and India, to Iran, Africa and Latin America. We watch Russian state TV around the clock, giving unrivalled insight into the evolution of Kremlin propaganda. But propaganda is just part of the information space we inhabit. In its more extreme form, we focus on disinformation that aims to defame enemies, sway elections, and undermine democracy.We have been monitoring jihadist media for nearly two decades, following the chatter from al-Qaeda and Islamic State group, gaining extraordinary knowledge about their aims, their ideological differences and allegiances. We watch the behaviour of Russia’s Putin, Iran’s Khamenei, Turkey’s Erdogan, China’s Xi Jinping, Hungary’s Orban and anyone else who might be challenging the established order, seeking to expand their global footprint or export their brand of ideology. At BBC Monitoring, we don’t just speak the language, we understand the narrative. So we can help you untangle the context and single out rhetoric from reality, deception from truth.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 14, 2023 • 29min
Who’ll be Argentina’s next president?
After a shock primary win, far-right libertarian economist Javier Milei is leading polls ahead of Argentina's presidential election. He's vowing to upend the status quo. With poverty rising, inflation into triple digits and recession looming, Argentinians are divided over who to trust to lead them out of the crisis. The intensifying virulence of the debate in the already polarised political landscape makes that choice even harder. Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.ukProducer: Kriszta Satori
Presenter: Krassi Twigg

Sep 29, 2023 • 42min
Wagner after Prigozhin
What next for the notorious Wagner group after the plane crash that wiped out its leadership? The Russian private military group that’s left boot prints in Europe, the Middle East and Africa is facing an uncertain future. We look at official movements and narratives - in Russia and abroad - to lift the deliberate veil of murkiness and find the clues. Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.ukProducer: Kriszta Satori
Presenter: Krassi Twigg

Sep 9, 2023 • 29min
Grain deal special
Russia and Turkey failed to reach an agreement to bring Ukrainian grain to countries that desperately need it, at a meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. What are the obstacles - and the implications for global food security? Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

Jul 28, 2023 • 21min
Niger coup special
Soldiers say they have taken control of the West African country. We unpick how events unfolded with BBC Monitoring’s Africa expert Beverly Ochieng. What can we learn from our media watch about what really happened and what could be the impications for the Sahel? This is a special episode of The Global Jigsaw. All of Season 1 is available to listen. Follow or subscribe so that you don’t miss future episodes.

Jul 25, 2023 • 28min
The story of BBC Monitoring
The Global Jigsaw is brought to you by BBC Monitoring, a part of the BBC you may not have heard of. This team of journalists reports on media from 150 countries in up to 100 languages and provides information and analyses to BBC newsrooms and the UK government, as well as commercial clients including universities and thinktanks. It also has an intriguing and, at times, dramatic history dating back to the eve of World War Two. This bonus episode is all about us.Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

Jul 14, 2023 • 38min
Israel at a defining moment
Israel’s government is pressing ahead with an overhaul of the judicial system which would curtail the power of the Supreme Court, and give the government more. The proposals are seen by critics as an attack on democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and have been met by unprecedented popular protests. In this week’s Global Jigsaw, we look at the crisis in Israel through our media lens, for a glimpse of the ideas and forces dividing Israelis so deeply today.
Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.ukProducer: Lucy Bailey
Presenter: Krassi Twigg
Editor: Judy King
Original music: Pete Cunningham
Sound engineer: Nigel Dix

Jul 4, 2023 • 34min
Wagner’s revolt: The world takes stock
Russia's once shadowy private military company Wagner hit the headlines around the world when the group’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, ordered his men to march on Moscow. Although the insurrection was short lived, the impact is felt far and wide. In a special edition, The Global Jigsaw examines the Wagner mutiny from the perspective of countries who have a reason to pay close attention. Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

Jun 30, 2023 • 45min
Putin’s media marathon
The gradual dismantling of independent media in Russia, from the colour and vibrancy under Boris Yeltsin in the 90s, to the extreme crackdown under Vladimir Putin a quarter of a century later. The Global Jigsaw tracks the key milestones in the process that turned the media into a “barren landscape”. And we look into a new propaganda push targeting the youngest.
Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

Jun 23, 2023 • 32min
Bulgaria’s Russia conundrum
The fault line in Bulgarian politics helping Moscow’s interests in Europe. Kremlin narratives have been dividing politics in this arms-producing EU country. Some see it as Russia’s Trojan horse. The former Soviet ally is torn between old and new allegiances, resulting in polarised attitudes towards Ukraine. How is Russia driving its agenda in Bulgaria, and is it working?
Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

Jun 16, 2023 • 43min
Russia’s propaganda firehose
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine intensified the Kremlin’s propaganda push. While independent media was defanged, TV talk shows multiplied to beam the state-sanctioned version of reality into living rooms. Alternative viewpoints are hard to find. Many Russians call their TV set the zombiebox - has it won the battle of narratives?


